Travel Top 5: Most desired hotel amenities

Not every hotel has a pillow butler or a tanning assistant on staff, but there are certain amenities that travellers have come to expect with their accommodations.

Hotels.com recently surveyed 1,000 people to rank 33 different hotel amenities in order to determine which were the most important to guests.

Here are the most desired amenities that made the top of the list:

1. Complimentary breakfast
It’s nice to be a member of parliament who can afford $16 glasses of orange juice when they travel, but many travellers, especially those vacationing with families, look to save a bit of cash by seeking hotels that offer free breakfasts.

2. Restaurant
Not every hotel is surrounded with a choice of nearby dining establishments. Consider your average airport hotel or something that is on the outskirts of town. If you need to hire a taxi to go out for a meal, eating out can get expensive so an in-house restaurant is a must. It also doesn’t hurt if the restaurant has an attached bar.

3. Internet and free wi-fi
A hotel room without internet access is like having no bed. It is an amenity that guests expect so not having it can be a deal-breaker for many. Mid-range and budget hotels often give free wireless access to their guests, but some higher-end places, especially those catering to business travellers with expense accounts, still charge for access.

4. Parking
Having a place to park your car, whether it be for free or at an affordable fee, is a godsend for travellers who have their own vehicle. In some big cities, you can end up spending more money parking your car offsite during your stay than you will for your hotel room.

5. 24-hour front desk service
When the toilet overflows at 3 a.m. or some other emergency arises outside of normal working hours, it’s reassuring to know that there is hotel staff on hand to help. Having 24-hour service at the front-desk seems like something every hotel should have, but you’d be surprised at those that don’t.

What is the top amenity that you seek in a hotel? Is it one on this list or something else? We’d love to hear about it in the comments.